Tag-addressing machine.



G. T. PRITCHARD.

TAG ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION. FILED JAN. 21;. I914.

1, 170,932. Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

3\ SHEETS-SHEET l.

da' W ATTORNEY G. T. PRITCHARD.

TAG ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26. I914.

Fig.3.

WITNESSES 5'4 Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY G. T. PRITCHAHD.

TAG ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26, 1914.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES GOIy6TB1ZChW L INVENTOR ATTORN EY GEORGE THOMAS PRITCHARD, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

TAG-ADDRESSING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

Application filed January 26, 1914. Serial No. 814,437.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. PBITCHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented a new 'and useful Tag-Addressing Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in tag addressing machines, and its object is to provide a machine with which shipping or other tags or like articles may be expeditiously addressed in such numbers as may be desired.

In accordance with the presentinvention there is provided a reservoir or container for tags, and in position to reciprocate across the mouth or discharge end of the reservoir is a slidable member constructed to remove the tags one at a time from the reservoir and when a tag is removed it is positioned in the path of a printing mechanism, by means of which the desired impression may be imparted to the tag, and then on the release of the actuating mechanism the slidable member or bed is returned to its first position ready on the next actuation to remove another tag for printing. On each return of the bed to its initial position the printed tag is discharged from the bed so as to be out of the way of the next tag in order. To facilitate the addressing of the tags in desired numbers, there is a register associated with the mechanism to be actuated at each operation of the printing mechanism, so that the operator knowing the number of tags to be printed with a certain address or other matter has but to add such number to the number displayed in the register and then operate the machine until the number is displayed, it being understood, of course, that a supply of tags is on hand in the reservoir.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this'specification, with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as ,such

changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine in the posltion assumed by the parts as a tag is being imprinted. Fig. 2 is a lon 'tudinal vertical central section of the machine with the parts in the normal position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in the position indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the machine with some parts in section. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the slidable plate or bed. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the operating arm or yoke lever. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the motion multiplying arms between the operating arm and the bed. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 2 drawn on a, larger scale and omitting distant parts. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the spring fingers used in the machine.

Re erring to the drawings, there is shown a casing 1 including a bottom member 2, sides 3 and a back 4, the latter being shown as slanting forwardly, as indicated at 5, at the upper portion. The casing 1 may be mounted on feet 6 usually of some sound deadening material, such as rubber or felt. On the inner wall of each side at an appropriate distance above the bottom 2 is a longitudinal channel 7, the channels facing each other and so related as to receive the edge portions of a plate 8, which, as will hereinafter appear, is designed to carry tags and serve as a bed for supporting the tags during the imprinting operation. A portion of one end of the plate 8 is cut away leaving spaced side members 9 to the under side of each of which there is secured a. strip 10 extending toward the other side member 9 to form a ledge for the reception of a filler plate 11 which may be of less thickness than the plate 8, so that when supported upon the ledges 10 the surface of the plate 11 is slightly depressed with respect to the surface of the plate 8. When the plate 11 is secured to the ledges 10 the rear edge of the cut away portion of the plate 8 forms a shoulder 12 of an extent equal to the space between the side extensions 9 and the thickness of a ta of a depth equal to the depression of the upper surface of the plate 8, this depression being regulated by the thickness of the plate 11 with respect to the thickness of the late 8 and may be reduced by placing s ims upon the ledges 10, this being a customarily employed form of adjusting means. The depth of the shoulder 12 may coincide with or may be less than such thickness, but s ould not be greater than such thickness. Certain portions of the surface of the plate 11 are grooved or still further depressed than other portions to receive strips 12 and 13 of some frictional material, such as soft rubber or the like, the strips 12 being adjacent to the extensions 9 and the stri 13 being about midway of the len h of the plate 11 as measured crosswise o the bed 8, and the strip 13 may be considerably wider than either of the strips 12. The side edges of the strip 13 are spaced from the corresponding edges of the strips 12 leaving portions 14, 15 of the filler plate 11 exposed and on approximately the level of the adjacent friction strips, the portion 15 being somewhat lower than the portion 14, but adjacent to the strip 13 being of the same height, such portion being indicated at 16. The late 8 adjacent to the shoulder 12 is provi ed with a series of notches 17 18, respectively, havin inclined bottoms so that the notches gra ually deepen toward and attain their full depth at about the shoulder 12. These notches lead to the portions 14, 15 and 16 of the filler plate 11 for a purpose which will presentl appear.

At opposite sides of the be plate 8 near the margins the plate is pierced by elongated slots 19, while near that end of the plate which may be termed the rear end an le brackets 20 are made fast to the plate y screws 21 or other arrangements may be employed, the purpose of the brackets 20 being to serve as stops.

lhe sides 3 of t e frame or casing 1 are carried to an appropriate height and terminate in lateral y thickened portions 22 designed to receive angle cars 23 on opposite ends of a reservoir 24, which latter may be of general rectangular cross section and of an area and shape to receive a pile of tags 25, these tags being usually of the" ty e known as shipping tags and are customari y made of a rectangular sheet of heavy Manila aper or cardboard with one end provided with an eye and there reinforced, as is customary, such reinforcement about the eye correspondingly thickening the tags, and for this reason the ortion 15 of reater depression is provide in the filler p ate 11 to allow for such additional thickness at the corresponding end of the tag, it bein understood that when the tags are place in areservoir their thickened ends always occupy the same relative osition in the reservoir, and in the particu ar showing of the drawings this is the left hand end of the reservoir as viewed in Fig. 1. The reservoir is ordinarily open top and bottom so far as the reservoir itself is concerned, but is so situated with reference to the bed plate 8 that the latter constitutes a bottom member for the reservoir. Furthermore, the reservoir is so situated in the casing 1 that when the plate '8 is moved in the casing until its ear edge abuts against a buffer 26 on the inner face of the rear wall 4, the filler plate 11 then underlies the reservoir preventing any tags 25 which may be in the reservoir from escaping, while the shoulder 1.2 is slightly to the rear of the inner back Wall of the reservoir. The front wall of the reservoir is cut away at the bottom for the full width of the interior of the reservoir, as indicated at 27, and this cut away portion is of the least height at the ends and of greater height where coinciding with the parts 14, 15 and 16 of the plate 11, as indicated at 28. The intermediate portion of the cut away part 27 is of still greater height, as indicated at 29, to provide a sight opening whereby the observer may ascertain when the su ply of tags within the reservoir is diminis mg to such an extent as to demand replenishment.

Made fastto the front wall of the reservoir are fingers 30 each near the outer end of the higher portion 28 of the cut away part of said front wall and also made fast to the front face of the reservoir 24 are other fingers 31 adjacent to the sight opening 29. These fingers are so arranged that the fingers 30 are in line with the notches 17 and the fingers 31 are in line with the notches 18. All the fingers may be made fast to the reservoir by screws 32 or in any other suitable manner.

One of the fingers 30 is shown separately in Fig. 9, the finger being secured at an inend 33 of the finger 30 readily yields to the increasin thickness of theiplate. The other end 35 o the finger 30 is forwardly bent in a direction away from the reservoir 24 and downwardly bent toward the path of movement of the filler plate and terminates in a prolongation 36 which, as will hereinafter appear, may be brou ht into contact with the tag resting upon t e filler plate.

'termediate point of its length to the reser- The fingers 31 have each an angle extension 37 projecting away forwardly from the front face of the reservoir 24 and terminating in an upturned end 38. These fingers 31 are located in line with the notches 18. so as to ride upon the portions 14 and 16 of the filler plate 11.

The reservoir 24 is of less length crosswise of the casing than the distance between the inner faces of the side members to leave room for certain mechanism to be described. Near the upper portion of each side member there is formed a boss 39 projecting inwardly from the inner wall of the side member, and such boss receives a screw 40 constituting a pivot support for the upper end of a depending rocker arm 41 shown separately in Fig.7. This arm is widened at the pivoted end and there is provided with a longitudinal, slot 42, while the end of the arm remote from the pivoted end is recessed, as shown at 43, thereby forming a longitudinal extension 44 of less width than the arm 41 adjacent to the recess 43. One of the two arms 41 has a link 45 connected to it near its pivoted end, and this link is carried to a rock arm 46 on a counter or registering mechanism 47 carried by a bracket support 48 made fast to the corresponding side of the casing.

Straddling the reservoir are the arms of a yoke lever 49 having the yoke portion provided with a projectin finger piece 50 by means of which the yo e lever may be manipulated. The leg members of the yoke lever terminate in perforated ears 51 in line with the leg members, and adjacent to these ears each le member has an angle extension 52 provided 53 through which extends a pivot screw 54 threaded into the adjacent side member 3, so that the yoke lever may rock upon the screws 54 fastening it to the inner faces of the two side members 3. When the angle extensions 52 join the legs of the yoke lever the latter has alined passages 55 into which are threaded screws 56 each carrying an anti-friction roller 57 lodged in the slot 42 of the corresponding arm 41. Connected to each ear 51 is one end of a coiled s ring 58, the other end of which ismade Fast to a threaded rod 59 extended through a boss 60 on the angle portion 5 of the back 4 of the casing, and this rod is threaded for the reception of a thumb nut 61 by means of which the rod 59 is held in the boss 60 in adjusted positions whereby the tension of the r spective springs 58 may be regulated.

The yoke portion of the lever 49 on opposite sides of the manipulatin member 50 is provided with lugs 62 to W ich there is secured a plate 63 by screws 64, this plate being elongated transversely of the length of the lever 49, and the lugs 52 are so at the free end with a passage shaped that the plate 63 is set at an appropriate angle to the general plane of the lever 49. The plate 63 is designed to receive and retain a box 65 which may be of generally rectangular shape and opposite ends of this box are inturned, as indicated at 66, to embrace opposite edges of the plate 63, so that the box may slide on to or be removed from the plate, the front 67 of the box serving as a stop limiting the movement of the box on to the plate, while a spring latch fin er 68 carried by the plate 63 serves to ho d the box to the plate against accidental removal. Whateonstitutes the bottom of the box 65 is in the form of an inturned ledge 69 of short extent, leaving the main portion of the bottom of the box open. This ledge receives and retains a pad 70 of sufficient thickness at the open bottom of the box to project therethrough so that the outer end of the pad is beyond the bottom of the box. The pad is of such thickness within the box as to leave considerable space which is occupied by a pan 71 having a perforated bottom 72, this pan being designed to receive ink which finds its way through the perforations to the pad, and the box not only holds the pad in place but serves to distribute the ink therethrough. The pan 71 is of such length that it may be removed through. the open top of the box when the box is taken from the plate 63 by sliding the pan to one end of the box, whereupon the other end of the pan may be lifted without interference from the inturned end or flange 66 of the box. The pad is designed to receive a stencil or other appropriate sheet 73 held at the edges against the flange 69 by a frame 74 having end ears 75 engaging spring members 76 fast on the ends of the box 65. Of course, it will be understood that any other suitable arrangement may be provided for holding the stencil members.

Those ends of the side arms 41 having the extensions 44 project through the slots 19 in the plate 8 and the length of the arms 41 is such that at no time will these arms escape from the plate 8. In order to limit the movement of the plate 8 away from the buffer 26 toward the front of the casing, stop lugs or other suitable stop members 77 are formed on the inner walls of the sides 3 in the path of the brackets 20.

Let it beassumed that a suitable number of tags 25 is lodged in the reservoir 24 and that it is desired to imprint a certain address or other matter upon a certain number of tags. The address containing sheet 73 which may be made of suitable material customarily emplo ed in connection with printing machines 0 the general character of the present invention is secured over the pad 70 so that ink will pass through the sheet 73 by way of stencil or other formation of the sheet, such stenciling or other formation being accomplished by a typewriter or by a pencil or other marking tool or in any way customarily practised. The ink will not spontaneously flow through the stencil sheet but may be forced therethrough by pressure. Now, if the structure be assumed to be in the position shown in Fig. 2 the operator depresses the lever 49 by a manipulation of the finger piece 50, this resulting in a rocking of the lever upon the pivot screws 54 and as the arms 52 traversed by these screws are at an angle to the main body of the lever the angle connection of the arms and lever moves forwardly in an are about the screws 54 and the printing member represented by the box is carried in an arc toward the path of the plate 8, this plate being impelled along the grooves 7 by the coaction of the lever 49 and rock arms 41 connected by screws 56. The free or lower ends of the arms 41 being lodged in the slots 19 cause a forward movement of the plate 8 as the arms rock from a rearward position toward the front, and this movement continues because of the timing and proportioning of the parts until the stop members 20 engage the stops 77, whereupon the movement of the plate 8 1s arrested but at this point the shoulders formed by the recesses 43 escape from engagement with the plate 8, so that the latter is no longer impelled but comes to rest while the arms 41 may have a further extent of movement. When the parts are in their normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, the lower one of the stack of tags 25 rests upon the filler plate 11 in engagement with the friction surfaces 12 and 13 and the rear edge of the lowermost tag in engagement with the shoulder 12. As the plate 8 moves forwardly the lowermpst tag is carried with it, and while the return portion 33 and 34 of the fingers 30 may at this time be in engagement with the lowermost tag the latter 1S thin and the unction of the upward extension or lip of each finger 33 is rounded, so that the tag readily passes beneath the finger, but the next tag above cannot move from the reservoir because it is engaged by the hp 34 and the fraction between he lowermost tag and the next above it is insuflicie'nt to overcome the resistance thus olfered. As the plate 8 moves forwardly the lowermost tag is carried with it, slipping under the extenslon 37 of the finger 31 until it passes the upturned lips 38 at the ends of these fingers 31, but is still underneath the extremities 36 of the finger extension 35. The movement of the plate 8 continues until arrested by the stop devices, but the yoke lever 49 has not yet reached the limit of its downward travel toward the bed plate, this extra movement being permitted by the recesses 43 in the arms 41, and this lost motion permits the final movement of the stencil sheet 73 into printin engagement with the tag carried by the ller plate 11 constituting an extension of the bed plate 8. The rear edge of the printing member engages the terminal portions 36 of the ex tensions 35 of the fingers 33 and the tag is eflectively gripped during the printing oper ation against accidental movement which might result in a blur in the printing. Now, the operator releases the pressure upon the finger piece 50, whereupon the springs 58 return the lever 49 to its first position and reverses ,the rocking movements of the arms 41, and thereby causing a return of the plate 8 to its first position. This movement first ermits the lifting of the printing member rom the tag, and then the engagement of the prolongations 44 of the arms 41 with the rear walls of the slots 19, thus causing a return or reverse movement of the plate 8 toward the first position. As the tag is carried rearwardly with the plate it comes into engagement with the u turned extremities 38 of the finger ends 3 and the ta is thereby discharged from the bed plate f alling into the portion of the casing beneath it. The next tag in order in the reservoir is now in position to be projected and printed and the operation may be repeated as many times and as rapidly as needed until the desired number of tags have been printed.

It is only necessary to maintain a supply of tags in the reservoir and to observe from time to time the counter or indicator mechanism 47 in order to imprint the desired number of tags, changing the stencil sheet as often as may be desired.

The construction of the bed plate in two parts permits the adjustment of the part designed to directly receive the tags in an up and down direction to allow for difierenoes in thickness of the tags. The ink employed in printing is of a more or less sticky nature, and consequently there is a tendency of the tag sticking to the printing surface, but this is overcome by the finger extensions 35 which strip the tag after printing from the printing pad should there be any tendency to stick. Moreover. the sprin fingers, and especially the portions 33 and 3 thereof hold the tag steady and firm, while it is being drawn by the sliding plate from the reservoir. Since that portion of the filler plate designed to receive the eye end of the tag is somewhat lower than the rest of the plate, the tag will lie flat upon the bed plate, so that the printing mechanism may be brought down firmly upon the tag. The engagement of the tag with the shoulder 12' and with the superior friction surfaces provided by the rubber strips insures the bringing out of a tag upon the plate each time the plate is moved forward. When the number of tags desired have been printed from one stencil sheet, another is very readily substituted by a removal of the holding frame 74. By bringing the bed plate to a full and positive stop at the. end of its forward travel overriding of the plate is prevented, and as at this time the printing device is not yet in contact with the tag the stoppage of the plate insures an automatic steady positioning of the tag during the printing operation.

Since the printing device moves against the tag from above, the tags are placed in the reservoir face upwardly, and since it is convenient to have the printing as produced properly readable by the operator, the high ends of the tags areplaced in the reservoir so that they occupy the end thereof toward the left hand side of the operator.

Because of the reinforcements about the eyes of the tags and the greater depression of the part 15 of the filler plate to accommodate such reinforcement, and, further more, because of the circumscribed area of such reinforcement, the weight of the ta s above the lowermost one is liable to slight y bend downithe adjacent portions of the next tag above the lowermost one sufficiently to cause it to be engaged by the shoulder 12 where deepened by the more depressed portion 15, were it not for the presence of a supplementary layer or thickening of the friction surface 12 adjacent to the depressed portion 15, this thickening being about on the level with the level of the portion 16, and is indicated at 16 in Fig. 5. The presence of the portion 16 maintains the corresponding portions of the lowermost and next higher tag in proper relation to the shoulder 12, so that on the removal of the lowermost tag the shoulder 12 doesnot engage the next higher tag.

What is claimed is 1. In a tag printing machine, a reservoir or receptaclefor tags, reciprocable tag holding means movable with relation to the receptacle to carry one tag at a time therefrom into printing position, a printing device, means for moving the printing device into and out of engagement with the projected tag, and connections from the means for moving the printing device to the tag holding means movable out of propelling engagement therewith on the attainment of the ta holding means to printing position, whereEy the printing mechanism has a range of movement to effect the printing during a period of rest of the tag holding means.

2. In a tag printing machine, a reservoir or receptacle for tags, a reciprocatory bed plate movable across the bottom of the reservoir and constructed to project one tag at a time from the reservoir into position to be printed, a rockable operating member for the bed plate, a printing device, and rockable operating means for the printing device connected to the first-named rockable means for actuating the same and said firstnamed operating means having a connection with the bed plate for movement out of propelling relation thereto after the bed plate has come to rest and before the secondnamed operating means has reached the limit of its movement.

3. In a tag printing machine, a reservoir or receptacle for tags, a reciprocatory bed plate movable across the bottom of the reservoir and provided with means for engaging and projecting one tag at a time from the reservoir, means for limiting the movement of the bed plate in a direction to project the tag, a rockable operating member, a printing device carried by the operating member and movable thereby toward and from the bed plate when the latter is in the projected position, and rockable connections between the rockable operating member and the bed plate having connections with the latter movable out of operative engagement therewith when the bed plate reaches the limit of its movement and before the printing device reaches the projected tag to print the latter.

4. In a tag addressing machine, a receptacle or reservoir, a bed plate movable transversely of the lower end of the reservoir and provided with a tag engaging portion, tag holding and arresting members carried by the reservoir in the path of tags within the reservoir and in the path of return movement of a projected tag, an operating member, an imprinting device carried by the operating member, and connections between the operating member and the bed plate for causing reciprocations of the latter.

5. In a tag addressing machine, areservoir or receptacle, a reciprocatory bed plate movable beneath the reservoir and forming a support for tags lodged within the reservoir, said bed plate having means for engagingand projectin the tag resting upon the bed plate when t e'latter is in the retracted position, an operating member, a printing device carried by the operatin member and movable therewith into an out of engagement with a projected tag, and

lost motion operating connections between the operating member and the bed plate comprising rock arms projecting through the bed plate and connected to the operating member, each rock arm having an extension of less width in the direction of travel than the arm and the bed plate being provided with passages for the rock arms each ofa length to receive the wider portion of the arm.

6. In a tag addressing machine, a casing,

of the rock lever, an

of the reservoir, a yoke lever a bed plate mounted for reciprocation in the casing, a reservoir for tags mounted above the bed plate with the latter constitutin the bottom member of the reservoir, a roe lever having angle extensions and pivotally mounted by said angle extensions, a printin device carried by the rock lever and mova 1e thereby toward and from the path of the bed plate, the latter being provided with elongated slots on opposite sides, and rock arms each pivotally carried at one end by the casing and at the other end projecting through a respectlve slot in the bed plate and also operatively connected to the rock lever, that end of each arm pro ect1 ng through the bed plate having an extension of less width than the width of the arm in the direction of its travel where pro ecting through the bed plate.

7. In a tag addressing machine, a casing, a bed plate mounted for reciprocation 1n the casing, a reservoir for tags mounted above the bed plate with the latter constitutin the bottom member of the reservoir, 11 roc lever having angle extens1ons and pivotally mounted by said angle extensions, a printing device carried by the rock lever and movable thereby toward and from the path of the bed plate, the latter be ng provided with elongated slots on opposite sides, and rock arms each pivotally carried at one end by the casing and at the other end projecting through a respective slot 1n the bed plate and also operatively connected to the rock lever, that end of each arm proJectrng through the bed plate havlng an extension of less width than the width of the arm in the direction of its travel where pro ect1ng through the bed plate, said bed plate and easing having coacting stop members for arresting the travel of the bed late in one direction before com letion o the travel the rock arms being related to the bed plate to have their broader portions esea e therefrom when the forward travel of the ed plate is arrested.

8. In a tag addressing machine, a suitable casing, a bed plate mounted for reciprocation in the casing, a reservoir mounted in the casing in overriding relation to the bed plate and the latter constituting the bottom aving angle extensions and pivotally mounted by said extensions in the casing in straddling relation to the reservoir, rock arms pivotally mounted in the casing on opposite sides of the reservoir and each promoting through a corresponding portion of the ed plate, the latter having elongated slots for the purose, and the end of each arm where pro- ]ecting through the corresponding slot in the bed plate having an extension of less width than the arm, pivotal connections between the rock lever and the rock arms, and

a printing device carried by the rock lever in dposition to enga e a tag carried by the be plate when in t e projected position.

9. In a tag addressing machine, a suitable casing, a bed plate mounted for reciprocation 1n the casing, a reservoir mounted in the casing in overriding relation to the'bed plate and the latter constitutin the bottom of the reservoir, a yoke lever iaving angle extensions and pivotally mounted by said extensions in the casing in straddling relation to the reservoir, rock arms pivotally mounted in the casing on opposite sides of the reservoir and each projecting through a corresponding portion of the bed plate, the latter havin elongated slots for the purpose, and the en of each arm where projecting throu h the corresponding slot in the bed plate aving an extension of less width than the arm, pivotal connections between the rock lever and the rock arms, and a printing device carried by the rock lever in position to engage a tag carried by the bed plate when in the projected position, the machine being provided with s ring connections between the casing and t e operating lever for returning the parts to one limit of movement of the bed late.

10. In a tag a dressing machine, the combination with a movable printing device, of a manipulatin member therefor, a reciprocatory bed p ate having a tag engaging shoulder and connections with the manipulating member for actuation thereby in timed relation to the movements of the printing device, a reservoir in overriding operative relation to the bed plate to deliver tags to the bed plate to be engaged one at a time by the shoulder of the bed plate for projection from the reservoir, and spring fingers carried by the reservoir, certain of the fingers being in engaging relation to tags other than the one enga 'ed by the shoulder of the bed plate, and ot ers of the spring fingers proecting from the reservoir in a direction to bear upon that face of the projected tag to be printed.

11. In a tag addressing machine, a movable printing device, a manipulating means therefor, a reservoir for tags, a reeiprocatory bed plate mounted to move across the reservoir at the bottom thereof and provided with connections to the manipulating means for actuation thereby, spring fingers on the reservoir each having a return portion in position to engage the next up or tag above the one resting on the bed p ate and also havin an extension to engage a projected tag a ter being removed from the reservoir, and other spring fingers carried by the reservoirand projecting in the direction of travel of the bed plate to remove a tag from the reservoir.

12. In a tag addressing machine, a reservoir for tags, a reciprocable bed plate forming the tag retaining bottom of the reservoir, a rockable manipulating member, a printing means carried by the manipulating member and movable toward and from the path,

of movement of the bed plate, and tag holding fingers carried by the reservoir and having portions extending from the reservoir into position to be engaged by the printing device and to in turn engage and hold the tag while being printed.

13. In a tag addressing machine, a reservoir for tags, a reciprocable bed plate forming the tag supporting bottom of the reservoir and movable to project tags one at a time therefrom, a printing device movable into and out of engagement with the projected tags, and tag engaging members carried by the reservoir in position to arrest movement of the tags from the reservoir, the return of projected tags to the reservoir, and for holding tags while being printed.

14. In a tag addressing machine, a printing device, manipulating means therefor, and a reciprocable bed plate having a filler constituting a platen for the printing device and comprising a section of a sizerto hold a tag, said filler being insertible into and secured to the bed plate and the latter being provided with connections to the manipulating means for actuation thereby.

15. In a tag addressing machine, a printing device, manipulating means therefor, and a reciprocable bed plate provided with connections to the manipulating means for actuation thereby, said bed plate having a cut away portion and a filler plate for said cut away portion of a size to receive and hold a tag, said filler plate having the tag receiving surface sunk below the plane of the corresponding surface of the bed plate.

16. In a tag addressing machine, a printing device, manipulating means therefor, a reciprocable bed plate provided with connections to the manipulating means for actuation thereby, said bed plate having a cut away portion and a filler plate for said cut away portion of a size to receive and holda tag, said filler plate having the tag receiving surface sunk below the plane of the corresponding surface of the bed plate and having portions of its surface formed of friction material adapted to engage a tag.

17. In a tag addressing machine, a printing device, manipulating means therefor, and a movable bed plate provided with connections to the manipulating means for actuation thereby and having a cut away portion and a filler plate therefor of a size to receive a tag and having the tag reciving surface sunk below the level of the remainder of the surface of the bed plate to form a tag engaging shoulder.

18. In a tag addressing machine, a printing device, manipulating means therefor, a bed plate provided with connections to the manipulating means for actuation thereby and having a cut away portion and a filler plate therefor of a size to receive a tag and having the tag receiving surface sunk below the level of the remainder of the surface of the bed plate to form a tag engaging shoulder, said filler plate having the end portion corresponding to the eye portion of a tag sunk to a lower level than the remainder of the filler plate to accommodate the superior thickness of the eye portion of the tag.

19. In a tag addressing machine, print ing means, manipulating means therefor, a reservoir for tags, a reciprocable bed plate forming the tag supporting bottom of the reservoir and having longitudinal wear surfaces and longitudinal friction surfaces in alternation, elastic tag engaging members carried by the reservoir in position to bear upon the longitudinal wear surfaces, and connections from the bed plate to the said manipulating means for actuation of the bed plate thereby.

20. In a tag addressing machine, printing means, actuating means therefor, a reservoir for tags, a reciprocable bed plate having connections to the manipulating means for actuation thereby and also having a cut away portion, afiller plate for the cut away portion having wear surfaces and friction surfaces in 'alternation, said filler plate being of a size to receive a tag and having its tag receiving surface sunk below the surface of the main portion of the bed plate to form a shoulder for engaging a tag where the plates join, and tag engaging fingers carried by the reservoir in position to bear upon the wear surfaces of the filler plate.

21. In a tag addressing machine, printing mechanism, manipulating means therefor, a reservoir for tags, a reciprocable bed plate having connection to the manipulating means for actuation thereby and also having a cut away portion, a filler plate for the cut away portion having wear surfaces and friction surfaces in alternation, said filler plate being of a size to receive a tag and having its tag receiving surface sunk below the surface of the main portion of the bed plate to form a shoulder for engaging a tag where the plates join, and tag engaging lingers carried by the reservoir in position to move upon the wear surfaces of the filler plate, the bed plate adjacent to the tag engaging shoulder being formed with inclined notches in the line of engagement therewith of the tag engaging members carried by the reservoir.

22. In a machine for addressing tags, a reservoir for tags, means for ejecting tags one at a time from the reservoir, fingers projecting from the reservoir into overriding relation to the projected tags, and a printing device comprising a supporting plate, a box slidable on to and off from the supporting plate and having an ink retaining pad, an ink receiving pan having passages for the distribution of ink to the pad, and means for holding a stencil sheet against the pad comprising a frame in surrounding inset relation to the stencil sheet and related to the fingers projecting from the reservoir to overlie said fingers when the printing device is in printing engagement with a projected tag.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE THOMAS PRITCHARD.

Witnesses: 1

J. GRAY REID, J. A. COLEMAN, Jr. 

